Tech

BlackBerry R10, Successor to the Curve, Leaks Online

So far, BlackBerry has debuted one touchscreen phone and one keyboard phone in its line of devices running BlackBerry 10 software, both high-end smartphones. Now it looks like BlackBerry's plans for the next wave of devices have leaked, and it's aiming a little lower.

Images and specs of the so-called BlackBerry R10 were posted on a Chinese website over the weekend. The images have since been removed, although they were reposted elsewhere. The photos and information point to a low-budget BlackBerry 10 phone with a QWERTY keyboard — essentially a successor to the popular BlackBerry Curve phones that sip both data and battery life.

Like the BlackBerry Q10, the R10's keyboard is straight, although it loses the metallic trim between the rows of keys — likely a budget-saving move. The screen is the same square 3.1-inch, 720 x 720 display, but it's unclear if it's also an AMOLED screen like the Q10's or regular LCD.

According to the leak, there's a 5-megapixel camera in back (the Q10's is 8MP). Storage is just 8GB, or half the Q10's, but RAM is said to be the same 2GB as in the Q10. No data on the CPU, though.

The battery holds 1,800 milliamp-hours of energy, the site says, a step down from the 2,100 mAh battery in the Q10. Notably, the R10's battery isn't removable like the Q10 and Z10.

BlackBerry reps didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The R10 would satisfy a significant market for BlackBerry, and it could be revealed as early as next week's BlackBerry Live conference in Orlando.

Is the R10 what you want in a budget BlackBerry 10 phone? Let us know in the comments.

BlackBerry Q10 Review

QWERTY Comes to BlackBerry 10

The BlackBerry Q10 updates the QWERTY phone experience for the BlackBerry 10 OS. It's beautifully designed and packs state-of-the-art smartphone guts, but its appeal is lost on anyone who doesn't already swear by keyboard phones.

Keyboard

For the Q10, BlackBerry straightened out the keyboard (it was curved on older models) and enlarged the keys. The steel trim makes it resemble the onscreen keyboard on its full-screen brother, the Z10.

AMOLED Screen

The Q10 has a 3.1-inch screen with a resolution of 720 x 720. It's an AMOLED display, although it doesn't get as bright as the Z10. Like the Z10, you can simply swipe up on the screen to unlock the phone, even from a dormant state.

Backside

The back of the Q10's enclosure is made of a semi-flexible glass weave that BlackBerry says is more than twice as strong as plastic, but it's friendlier to radio waves than metal.

Removable Back

The back panel detaches, revealing the battery, which is easily swappable. You can also slip in a microSD card (optional).

Connectors

On the left side of the Q10 are ports for microUSB and microHDMI.

BlackBerry 10.1

The Q10 ships with BlackBerry 10.1 software. It has all the features of BlackBerry 10 (including the ability to "peek" back at your Hub, as shown) along with a few extras and refinements.

Q10 vs. Bold 9930

Here's the Q10 side by side with the BlackBerry Bold 9930, one of the last keyboard phones to run the older BlackBerry 7 OS. Note that the row of function buttons has been removed.

Stacked with Bold 9930

Here's a look at how the two form factors compare.

Slower Typing

People used to touchscreen phones may find that they're slowed down by the physical keyboard, as I was.

BlackBerry 10 Tutorial

BlackBerry 10.1 brings with it a tutorial, walking new users through things like gestures and the Hub.

Text Selection

The "target" you use to zero in on text is refined in BlackBerry 10.1.

BlackBerry Balance

BlackBerry Balance ensures your "workspace" on your phone can be securely managed by your IT department without affecting your personal apps or data. When you log in to the workspace, the background and apps change to reflect the new environment.

Locked Email

You still get alerts about new messages with Balance, but you won't be able to view them until you log into the workspace with a password.

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